Signal.



retornar CLAUSE N. BRWN, OFRICHMONDVLLE, NEW YORK.

SIGNAL.

no. erases,

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. riefen s, reos.

Application filed January .14, i908. Serial No. dl.

useful improvements in Signals, oi which the following is a specification.

The invention relates gene-rally to an iin--I provernent in signaling devices, and particularly to a signaling apparatus primarily adapted. for domestic use and serving as a convenienty means for notifying one or more tradesmen that their services or goods are required.

The main object of the present invention is the production of a signaling apparatus including duplicate signaling devices located respectively at the operating point and at the receiving point and a controlling device located at the operating point, the controlling device serving to simultaneously and similarly operate both 'signaling devices, so that an identical signal is indicated at both the' operating and receiving oint.

ticularly to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure i is a view illustrating botlrsignaling devices and the controlling device, the ,controlling device being shown in elevation and the signaling device partly in section and partly in elevation. Fig. 2 is a iront elevation oi one of the signaling devices. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section. partly in plan of one ofy the signaling devices.

Referring particularly to the accom )anying drawings, it will be noted that, as s own in Fig. i, the present improvement includes 4o distinct signaling devices Il and 2, the former, which may be hereinafter termed the test device, is located at the operating point and serves to indicate to the operator the condition and operation of `the remote sienaling device andthe latter, which may be icreinh after termed the call device, is located at the remote point readily accessibletothe tradesmen or others for whomv the signed. Vfitli the signaling evioe is used a 5o controlling device 3, also located at the operating point, and by means of which both the test and call devices are controlled.

- rvisthe call and test devices are ot duplicate construction a detailed descripti .1 of one willy sutlice'ifrfboth. lnstruoture eachfof The invention will beescribed in the fol-I lowing specification, reference being had-par@ and that there is said devices includes a casing 1l, preferably of rectangular construction, though any desired shape and size is contemplated. The casing is preferably a wooden structure oi such ornamental character as may be de- Y sired, the face or forward wall of the casing being preferably formed by a glass or other transparent section 5. Within the casing immediately in rear of the forward wall there is secured to the base or bottom 6 series oi uprights 7 referably arranged in alinement transverse t e casing and in an appro riate number corresponding tothe number o calls for Which the machine is adapted.

The uprights 7 may. be of any desired form, being preferably metallic strips or plates, as shown, formed on their front faces with means, such as iianges or clips, adapted for the removable insertion of cards 8, the arrangement being such that the cards are .thus supportedin upright position and in a manner to render the face of the cards freely visible through the transparent Wall 5 of thev casing. These cards are separatel inscribed to indicate any desired data, in t e present instance the cards bearing the names or" diin lferent tradesmen, as shown. in rear 'of the upri lits 7, the base 6 is provided with vertical y extending posts 9, in which is, supl ported a transversely disposed shaft 10, 't shaft extendine transverse and practical'lv of the entire widtli of the casing. Mounts on v the shaft are a series of inde endently mov able shutters 11, each oi. w ich preferably corn rises a metallic strip of a length to exten( in both directions beyond the Shaft il),

the forward end of the strip extending slightly in advance oi the uprights and .having a downwardly turned end i2 of a-size to overlie and conceal the particular card when the shutter is in closed or normal position.

lt is understood, of course, that any ydesired number of uprights fare contemplated, rovided for each upright an independent s utter 11, which shutters, when in their normal osition, will through the medium of the Aepending portion i2 effectually conceal the card carried bythe particular uprivht. Between the upright and shaft 10 eadh shutter is provided Wit. la coil spring 13 terminally connected to the shutter and to the base 6, whereby the shut Iter is' normally maintained in closed or card Iconcealing position. Directly Ain rear of the ilu shaft 10 there is secured upon the base 6 of the casing a vseries of electro-magnets 14, one of such magnets being disposed immediately beneath the rearward extension of each shutter. Secured upon the under surface of the of the casing. The rearward extension of gers 17.

, vices.

the shutter, which is preferably slightly reduced in width for convenience is terminally formed with a slightly upward inclined lip 16, and secured upon the base 6 in position td receive and engage the lip 16 is a spring iin er 17, -which at an appropriate point in its en th is formed with an. oliset shoulder or catc i 18, designed to receive the lip 16 .of the shutter and retain the same in elevated position after actuation of the shutter by the electro-magnet 14. The rear wall of the casing is provided with a series of electromagnets 19, one for each shutter, said electro-magnets projecting forwardly from the rear wall and having their cores disposed respectively'directly in rear of the spring fin- Each of the fingers 17 is also provided on its rear surface with a contactblock or armature 20, arranged and designed to be attracted by the core of the electromagnet 19 upon the energization of the latter, the movement of the spring finger under the influence of the electro-magnet serving to release the lip 16 of the particular shutter and. permit the shutter, under theinluence of gravity and the coil spring 13, to return to normal or card concealing position.

The controlling device is in the form of a rectangular base 21, centrally of ,which is se-A cured a plurality of card receiving frames 22, designed 'respectively to removably receive cards 23, which cards are inscribed to correspond with the card 8 in the test and call de- Above and below the frames 22, the base 21 is provided with push buttons 24 and 25 respectively, the 'former being in electrical circuit with the electro-magnets 14 of both the test and call apparatus, While the latter is in electrical circuit with the electro-magnets 19 oi" both the test and call apparatus,

it being understood, ol course, that the push.

buttons 24 and 25, corres'onding to a particular card on the control ing device, are in electrical circuit with the particular electro magnets controlling theshutter arranged to expose or conceal the same card inthe test and call devices. The circuits, including the usual conductors 26, are energized by batas shown the operation of my improved signaling apparatus is as follows, it being understood that the controlling device 3 and test device 1 are located at the operating point,

-as in the kitchen of a house, While the call device 2 is located at a remote point accessible to the tradesmen, as in thefront vestibule or similar position.. Assumingv that the house holder desires to give an order to the baker, the dpush button 24 corresponding to the car inseribedMBaker oi the controlling. device 3 is pressed, with the eect to energize those electro-magnets' 14 of both the test and call devices which 'are adapted to influence the particular shutters co` erating with the articular card 8, which is aso inscribed aker, The energization of these electro-magnetswill, through the armatures 15, depress the rearward cX- tensions of the particular shutters and elevate the' depending portions 12 from in front of the articular cards with the effect to render t ese cards visible through the transparent walls 5 oi the casings.r The operation oi the shutters will cause the li s 16 thereof to engage the latches 18, witi the eiect to hold these shutters elevated with the cards exposed. The tradesman called for having noted the signal for his'presence and received the order or other instructions, ythe button 25- arran ed below the card Baker of the controv ling device is pressed with the elfect to energize `the articular electro-magnets 19v of vboth the call) and test devices, thereby withdrawing the catches 18 from lengagement with the shutters and releasing the tlatter to the influence of the spring 13 for return to normal or card concealing positions. By rthe use of a test and call device the operator can at any time determine the condition oi' the remote call .device by an inspection of the test device,

thereby becoming advised as vto whether or `not the proper calls have been made and are indicated. y

The device is particularly appropriate for apartment houses, as by its use any householder can indicate a desire for the services or goods of any particular tradesman, and the latter learning the desire ior his goods by an inspection of the call device can communicate with the particular apartment .through the convenient speaking tube or telephone and thereby receive orders without the delay or annoyance incident to a personal visit to the apartment. Time and labor incident to the usual method oi' conveying orders are thus saved, as is also the unnecessary visits ol tradesmen whose goods are not desired at the particular time.

The signaling deviceinay be ol' any size and I' is claimed as new, is:-

may be adapted for any number of tradesmen or other purposes, neither the size, form, nor ldie materialof which they are constructed forming any part of the present invention. y

Having thus described the invention what l. A signaling apparatus including asignaling device arid a controlling device, the signaling device comprising a casing having a series of independent distinctly inscribed cards,`a series oi' shutters normally concealing fthe inscription onthe cards, an electromagnet `lor operating each shutter, aI catchI lfor locking each shutter in operated position, and an electro-magnet for releasing the catch, the* controlling device com rising a seriesoi cards corresponding to t e cards in the signaling device, 'a contact means for each -card ci the controlling device energizing one of the electro-magnets inthe si naling device, and a contact device for eai card of the controlling devicefor energizing r the remaining electro-magnet of each shutter in the 'signaling device.

2. A signaling apparatus comprising a signaling device, a controlling device, and a test device, the signaling device comprising a casing having a series of independent disnormally concealing the inscription on the cards, an electro-Ina net for operating, each shutter,A a catch for ocking each shutter in operated position, and' van electro-magnet for releasing the catch, the controlling device comlprisin'g a series of cards corresponding to t ecards in the signaling device, a contact means for each card of the controlling deviceenergizing one ofthe electro-magnets in the signaling device, and a contact device for each card of the controlling device for energizing .the remaining electro-magnet testI ldevice being arranged adjacent and operated bythe controlling device for indicating the operation of the signaling device. In testimony whereof I alix my slgnatur in presence of two. witnesses.

' CLAUDE N. BROWN. Witnesse:

ISAAC J. HARRINGTON JoEL C. WALnoRF.

tinctly'inscribed. cards, a series oil shutters of each shntterin the signaling device, said I' 

